Non-Resident permit · ME → UT
Is a Maine Non-Resident Permit Valid in Utah?
Yes. Utah is a permitless-carry state that also honors Maine non-resident permits. Carrying on the permit keeps things simpler in some situations, such as school-zone rules under federal law.
Why
- Utah recognizes valid carry permits from every US state.
- Utah allows permitless carry for eligible adults 21+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
'In accordance with U.C.A. 53-5a-102.2, Utah will honor a permit to carry a concealed firearm issued by any other state or county' (BCI) — no holder-residency restriction.
The permit (Maine)
- Permit
- Maine Permit to Carry Concealed Handguns
- Issued by
- Maine State Police (issuing authority for most municipalities and for all non-residents); some municipal police chiefs issue locally
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- Yes — Non-resident permits are issued by the Chief of the State Police (25 M.R.S. 2003; $80 application fee, 60-day decision window).
The destination (Utah)
- Recognition policy
- Honors permits from all states
- Permitless carry
- Yes (21+)
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in Utah
Recognition is only half the question. Once you're inside Utah, its carry rules apply to you exactly as they do to locals.
- BCI FAQ: 'there is no legal requirement to identify yourself to a law enforcement officer' as carrying, though BCI recommends immediately identifying yourself as armed for officer safety.
- Utah sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Utah allows permitless concealed carry from age 21 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- A loaded firearm may be carried in a vehicle the person lawfully possesses or with the possessor's consent (under-18s may not carry a loaded firearm in a vehicle; loaded rifles/shotguns prohibited in vehicles) — U.C.A. 76-10-505 as amended by HB 60.
Off-limits places in Utah
Utah bans carry in 6 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- Secure areas of airports
- Courts and law-enforcement secured areas
Maine vs Utah: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Maine into Utah changes one rule: out-of-state permits honored (23 states → All states).
| Rule | Maine | Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes (21+) | Yes (21+) |
| Duty to inform police | No | No |
| Magazine limit | None | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | 23 states | All states |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, a Utah non-resident permit in Maine: permit not recognized — but permitless carry applies.
Driving on from Utah
How a Maine non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Utah:
Frequently asked questions
- Does Utah honor a Maine resident permit?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. The answer is the same as for the non-resident permit on this page.
- Can a Utah non-resident permit holder carry in Maine?
- Permit not recognized — but permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Maine's law, not Utah's.
- Where does Utah publish its official reciprocity list?
- Utah publishes its recognition policy on an official state page, linked in the sources on this page. That page is the authority — check it shortly before travel, because recognition lists change without much notice.
Official sources
- Utah BCI — States that Honor the Utah Permit(s) (U.C.A. 53-5a-102.2 recognition) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Utah BCI — Concealed Firearm Permit FAQ (duty to inform, prohibited places, non-resident eligibility) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Utah DPS News — Permit-less Concealed Carry H.B. 60 FAQ — accessed 2026-08-08
- Utah Legislature — HB 60 (2021) enrolled text (76-10-505 vehicle carry, 76-10-523) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Utah BCI — How Do I Apply for a Concealed Firearm Permit? (via Wayback 2026-06-01) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Utah BCI — How Do I Renew My Concealed Firearm Permit? (via Wayback 2026-04-20) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Maine State Police - Concealed Handgun Reciprocity — accessed 2026-08-08
- Maine State Police - Concealed Carry in Maine — accessed 2026-08-08
- 25 M.R.S. 2003 - Permits to carry concealed handguns — accessed 2026-08-08
- 25 M.R.S. 2001-A - Threatening display of or carrying concealed weapon — accessed 2026-09-27